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 • January 2025•
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Changes Impacting Employers In 2025
Important changes regarding worker rights and pay came into effect on January 1, 2025. Here's what both workers and employers should be aware of:
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New Rate: $16.66 per hour (up 2.35% from 2024).
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Eligibility: Applies to workers aged 16 and older.
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Youth Wage: Employers can pay $14.16 per hour (85% of minimum) to workers aged 14-15.
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Salary Thresholds:
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Up to 50 Employees: $1,332.80 per week ($69,305.60 per year).
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51 or More Employees: $1,499.40 per week ($77,968.80 per year).
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Applies to: Executive, administrative, professional workers, computer professionals, and outside salespeople.
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Exempt Computer Professionals: Must earn at least $58.31 per hour (3.5 times minimum wage).
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In Seattle:
- $0.68 per minute or $1.59 per mile (minimum $5.95 per trip).
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Outside Seattle:
- $0.39 per minute or $1.34 per mile (minimum $3.45 per trip).
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Note: Food delivery drivers are excluded.
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Limitations: Only enforceable for workers earning over $123,394.17 or independent contractors earning over $308,485.43.
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Wage Reimbursements: Maximum reimbursement increased from $10,000 to $25,000 per claim for the Stay at Work and Preferred Worker Programs.
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Expansion: Workers can use paid sick leave to care for more individuals, including household members and those with whom they have a caregiving relationship.
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Emergency Leave: Paid sick leave can be taken if a child’s school or daycare closes due to an emergency.
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Paid Family & Medical Leave Premium Rate Changes in 2025
The Employment Security Department (ESD) recalculates the Paid Leave premium rate every October based on the contributions and benefits paid from the previous year. The Paid Family & Medical Leave premium rates changed effective January 1, 2025.
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New Premium Rate: Increased to 0.92%.
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Contribution Breakdown:
- Employers will pay 28.48% of the total premium.
- Employees will pay 71.52%.
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Small Businesses: Employers with fewer than 50 employees do not have to pay the employer portion but must collect the employee portion or pay it on the employees' behalf.
Next Steps for Employers
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Notify Employees: Inform them that the new rate applies to wages paid from January 1, 2025. Updated resources are available on the Paid Leave website.
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Collect Premiums: Start collecting the new rate from employees’ gross wages (excluding tips) from January 1, 2025. Stop collecting once an employee reaches the Social Security cap of $176,100.
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Submit Premiums: The first quarter's premiums at the new rate are due by the end of April 2025. Note that you cannot withhold retroactive premiums from employees.
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New Rulemaking To Restrict Lead In Cosmetics
The Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act restricts the manufacture, distribution, and sale of cosmetic products that contain certain toxic chemicals within Washington. This new rulemaking will identify a feasible approach to regulating lead in cosmetic products, including potentially adopting a different limit on lead.
Interim policy on lead restrictions
Manufacturers unable to achieve lead concentrations below 1 part per million (ppm) can choose to follow the interim policy. Manufacturers must:
- Notify Ecology that they are using the policy by Feb 1, 2025 using the online form.
- Continue working toward the lowest lead levels possible in products.
More information
Go to the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act web page to see who must comply, how you can stay informed, and get contact information.
Organics Regional Summit 2025
Organics Management Law
Washington’s organics management laws divert organics from landfills and reduce methane emissions, which is a key strategy to address climate change.
Organics management for businesses
If your business is in a Business Organics Management Area and disposes of a certain volume of organic materials you must arrange for organic materials management service according to the timeline below.
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Jan. 1, 2024 – Businesses generating at least eight cubic yards of organic material waste per week.
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Jan. 1, 2025 – Businesses generating at least four cubic yards of organic material waste per week.
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Jan. 1, 2026 – Businesses generating at least 96 gallons of organic material waste per week.
You must also ensure that an organics management facility will process the organic materials taken off-site. These requirements also apply to businesses arranging for gardening and landscape work.
Register to attend The Organics Regional Summit
Questions? Contact Delaney Carr, Organics Specialist at 509-666-1990.
The Brownfields Program
Ecology’s Brownfields Program in the Toxics Cleanup Program helps local governments, Tribes, nonprofits, and community organizations investigate, clean up, and redevelop brownfields.
A brownfield is a formerly developed property that is now vacant or underutilized and may have environmental contamination. Typical brownfields include abandoned gas stations, old dry cleaners, and former orchard lands. Chances are good you live near a brownfield because Washington has more than 14,000 of them.
The great news is that the Brownfields Program helps communities put these properties back into use. We partner with the Dept. of Commerce, EPA, Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR), and other organizations. Together, we provide funding and technical assistance to communities so they can transform brownfields into beneficial uses like small businesses, parks, and affordable housing.
Explore more!
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Check out a recent newsletter
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Subscribe to the newsletter.
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Discover success stories.
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Download presentations from recent brownfield workshops in Richland, North Bend, and Bremerton.
Register to attend a free webinar: From Vacant Land to Thriving Community
Anyone is welcome to register for this free webinar to learn about transforming vacant or potentially contaminated properties. You can also explore a new, major funding source for brownfield projects.
The Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR) will guide you through brownfields basics, equitable planning and engagement, and current funding opportunities. Liberty Hill, EPA Region 9’s partner, will discuss a new grant program that launches in January 2025.
Webinar details:
- Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2024 • 10 – 11:15 A.M. • Via Zoom •
- Register Here
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Lafarge & Egge Celebrates
New Facility Expansion
Lafarge & Egge recently hosted a ribbon-cutting for their new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Everett, WA.
It was made possible, in part, by a 2024 Commerce Evergreen Manufacturing Growth Grant.
Read all about it in our
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FREE On-Demand
Business Training Center
StartUp Washington provides a FREE On-Demand Training Center administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce.
It offers no-cost education that entrepreneurs can use to build a successful enterprise.
Explore your opportunities!
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Want to expand your business overseas? The Export Finance Assistance Center of Washington (EFACW) can help. Check out our FREE export workshops offered in January. These outstanding educational sessions offer tangible takeaways to grow your international business. Learn more about EFAW events and register today.
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Office of Minority & Women's
Business Enterprises
omwbe.wa.gov
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ScaleUp offers nine weeks of FREE training for established business owners, featuring a mix of instructor-led training, online learning modules and independent study. Are you ready to increase profitability, build capacity, and spur growth? Classes begin January 21st.
ScaleUp Business Training Program
OMWBE in partnership with The Yakima County Development Association, the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Washington state Department of Commerce host the ScaleUp business training program in Yakima and Pasco.
Looking to grow your business? The ScaleUp business training program is here to help you improve operations, increase profitability, and plan for long-term success.
Program Details:
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Dates: January 20, 2025 – March 18, 2025
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Online (English): Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays at 6:00 PM
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Online (Spanish): Tuesdays at 6:00 PM
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In-person (Spanish): Tuesdays at 6:00 PM in Yakima and Pasco
Registration Information:
Please share with the communities you serve!
BizConnect: Your Path to Business Success
OMWBE in partnership with The Yakima County Development Association and the the Washington state Department of Labor & Industries host the BizConnect workshop in Yakima.
Who should attend? Business owners and managers looking to stay informed and compliant with Washington State's workplace standards.
Workshop Details:
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Date: January 15, 2025
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Time: 4:00PM – 5:00PM (English) • 6:00PM – 7:00PM (Spanish)
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Location: Yakima County Development Association 2520 W Washington Ave Suite 1, Yakima, WA 98903
- Virtual Option Available Upon Registration
Register on Eventbrite:
Questions? Email: Lara.Cantero@omwbe.wa.gov or Call/text at 360-489-7635.
Please share with the communities you serve!
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Did you know Revenue’s Telephone Information Center has a dedicated Spanish line?
It’s true! Call 360-705-6706 for tax and license assistance in Spanish.
Get ready to file your excise tax returns by attending a free webinar
Learn about your tax reporting responsibilities with the Business Tax Basics webinar. We will discuss tax classifications, deductions, sales tax collection, and recordkeeping requirements. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions about taxes that apply specifically to your business. This webinar is offered in English and Spanish. Register online at dor.wa.gov/BusinessTaxWorkshops.
Learn how to file basic excise tax returns using our online portal, My DOR. We will demonstrate how to report for three business and occupation tax classifications (retailing, wholesaling, and service and other activities), deductions, credits, and litter tax. This webinar is offered in English and Spanish. Register online at dor.wa.gov/HowToFile.
Tax workshop offered in Spanish
Please join us for a Business Tax Basics workshop, offered in Spanish, on January 23, 2025. The workshop will be held at the Tumwater DOR office at 6400 Linderson Way SW, Tumwater, WA, 98501. Register online to let us know you’re coming.
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Small Business Resources & Requirements
Free Workshops
The Small Business Liaison Team (SBLT) is a partnership of 29 state agencies working to improve access to regulatory information, education, and agency resources for business communities across the state of Washington.
The Small Business Requirements & Resources (SBRR) are free workshops providing you with essential information and resources to help start, run, and grow your business.
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Starting a Business in Washington • Live Webinars
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The Small Business Guide
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The Small Business Guide is broken into six sections, based on your stage of business.
Whether you are starting your business, managing a new business, or expanding your business, you'll find valuable information and resources.
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The Small Business Guide is now available in the following languages:
English, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Vietnamese, Samoan, Somali, and Tagalog, Ukrainian, and two volumes in Braille Ready Format Braille - Volume 1 and Braille - Volume 2.
The ORIA Information Center Team
We offer an experienced team familiar with owning a small business, working for regulatory agencies, and ready to connect you with reliable information and valuable resources.
- Let us do the research for you. Our service is free!
- Contact the IC Team at 800-917-0043 or email help@business.wa.gov or click below for Live Chat services.
FinCEN: Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting (BOIR)
A recent federal court ruling has put a temporary hold on the requirement for reporting companies to file beneficial ownership information with FinCEN. While companies are currently not obliged to submit this information and won’t face penalties for not doing so, they still have the option to submit it voluntarily if they choose.
This situation might evolve, so it's good to stay updated on any changes.
Stay informed:
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SBA Offers Disaster Assistance: Bomb Cyclone Recovery Loans
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to Washington businesses and residents affected by the Bomb Cyclone that occurred Nov 17-25. The SBA issued a disaster declaration on December 23 in response to a request received from Governor Jay Inslee on December 19. The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Chelan, King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish, and Yakima counties
The deadline to apply for property damage is Feb. 21, 2025. The deadline to apply for economic injury is Sept. 23, 2025.
- For more information, review the SBA Disaster Loans Fact Sheet or call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
- For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
- Applications for disaster loans may be submitted online using the MySBA Loan Portal at lending.sba.gov
The SBA Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience announced the opening of two in-person Disaster Loan Outreach Centers to assist businesses and residents who sustained economic losses and physical damages from the Bomb Cyclone event. The centers are located in Bellevue, WA and Renton, WA in King County. For more information click here.
En Espanol:
Declaracion de Disastre
La SBA Abrirá Nuevos Centros de Difusión y Asistencia para Préstamos de Desastres en Washington
The Washington Center for Women in Business (WCWB) aims to provide a platform for women owners across Washington to share their journeys and insights while creating a safe and empowering community that supports and mentors each other. We work hard to seek and provide skillful local speakers and highlight businesses that are leading, innovating, and impacting their communties. We seek to educate all in the art of business ownership and discuss the impacts it has on us physically and mentally.
2025 gives us another opportunity to gather and learn from each other - only lifting each other up while producing realistic and attainable goals. This is not about the Women's Business Center - it's about women owning businesses and working hard everyday while raising families, managing other jobs, and conistently pouring themselves out for others and their communities. United, we can make sure all can start, grow, and maintain an entrepreneur's dream."
Event Details:
- Thursday, May 22 · 8am - 4:30 PM
- Great Wolf Lodge Water Park, 20500 Old Highway 99 SW, Centralia, WA 98531
- Register Here
• Workshops • Training • Events & Calendars •
Women's Business Center
SCORE
SBA
WSBDC
Dept. of Enterprise Services
Dept. of Labor & Industries
Dept. of Revenue
Office of Minority's & Women's Business Enterprises
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